To produce grapes, the vine goes through different stages of development. These stages influence the yield and quality of the harvest. There are two main cycles in the development of the vine:
- The vegetative cycle. It takes place from March to mid-November. This is the period when the vine is active and undergoes the main phases of its development.
- The winter cycle. It takes place from mid-November until March. This is the vine's resting phase.
Each of these two main cycles is divided into different stages that occur throughout the year. These stages vary in duration depending on the terroirs and grape varieties. Domaine du Goût explains more below.
Bleeding
This is the first stage the vine goes through after resting during its winter cycle. At the beginning of spring, as soon as March arrives, the vegetative cycle begins. The vine, which was pruned during the winter, then shows pruning wounds. With the warming of the soil at this time of year, the sap in the plant starts to circulate again. The sap then begins to flow from the pruning wounds of the vine. These "bleeds" of sap signal to the winemaker the resumption of activity in the plant's root system.
Budding
This occurs between 20 and 35 days after bleeding. From late March to early April, buds appear on the vine along the canes. The buds quickly swell and open to reveal a young shoot. Finally, they split open. Indeed, after the pruning wounds have healed, the vine's circulation system becomes very active, especially due to temperatures rising above 10°C and the effects of humidity.
This splitting phenomenon is called "budding." The bud scales shed the "wool," which is the fine shoot from which future leaves will emerge. This is a closely monitored stage by winemakers because the vine is very sensitive to spring frosts at this time.
Leafing
This period occurs in April. It is when the leaves begin to develop. The buds transform into young shoots, which gradually turn into leaves. The leaves unfold and take on their final appearance.
Flowering
Between late May and early June, after the leaves appear, flowering occurs, corresponding to the development of flower clusters. Temperatures are now higher and the sun is more present. These conditions allow the vine to bloom its flowers, which will later be replaced by grapes. This stage is very short, lasting only about ten days. The small white flowers that appear during this time are already in cluster form. Vine flowers have the particularity of opening from the bottom up. The quality of flowering informs the winemaker about the expected yield. There is even a rule that sets the harvest date 100 days after flowering.
Fruit set
Still in June, the flowers fade and gradually give way to the future grape berries. This stage is called fruit set because the grape berry that appears is "tied" to the shoot. At this stage, the grape is the size of a peppercorn, very firm, and most vulnerable to diseases. If flowering did not go as planned, the clusters show berries of uneven sizes. This is called millerandage.
Leaf thinning
During summer, leaf thinning is an important task for the winemaker. This step involves removing and cutting leaves that might shade the grape clusters from the sun. The goal is for the grapes to receive maximum sunlight to allow better ripening and reduce the occurrence of certain diseases. This leaf thinning can be done manually or mechanically.
Veraison
From mid-July, the vine's growth phase slows down. The grape berries, which were still green and hard, begin to change color berry by berry. The berries turn from translucent to golden for white varieties, and from green to pink, then from blue/red to black for red varieties. Veraison lasts 10 to 15 days. The grape, which takes on its final color, also starts to accumulate sugar, although it remains very acidic during this period.
Ripening
From August, the acidity of the grapes reaches its peak. It then decreases as sugar accumulates. The skin of the berry also becomes thinner. This marks the beginning of the ripening phase. This crucial stage determines the wine's characteristics. The ripening phase lasts between 35 and 55 days, from August to October. This is the time for the berries to fully accumulate sugar. Weather plays a major role in grape ripening. Cooler weather results in more acidic grapes, while sun and heat produce much sweeter grapes. When sugar and acid levels balance out, the grape is ripe. The harvest period can then begin.
Dormancy
From mid-November, the leaves change color to red or yellow, then begin to fall. The sap descends into the trunk and roots. The vine then enters hibernation until March and its next vegetative cycle.
However, fortunately, there is no good or bad time of year to enjoy a good bottle! So if you want to discover new wines through various unique concepts, visit our website.
